From The Desk Of The Jigsaw Seen: The Guise Of Comedy

The co-founder of the Jigsaw Seen 25 years ago (alongside ace guitarist Jonathan Lea), former all-Maryland high-school soccer player Dennis Davison gets his exercise these days as a professional dog-walker. Strolling L.A.’s concrete canyons gives him ample time to do what he does best: write distinctively original lyrics and melodies that give off the mere whiff of former heroes such as the Bee Gees, Who and Love. Unlike previous albums, Old Man Reverb, Jigsaw’s fourth set of originals in the past four years, has a unified sound running throughout. Davison and Lea will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on the Jigsaw Seen.

Davison: This is the subject that I’m probably the most opinionated about, but luckily for you, the reader, I’m always right!

I’m looking to pin the genius badge on modern comedians. Most people who are interested in the genre will agree on the genius of Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Langdon, Laurel & Hardy, W.C. Fields and Jacques Tati.

Now, we’re not talking stand-up here. That would make it too complicated. Despite what some would think, laughs are not everything when it comes to comedic genius assessment. Originality and artistry are just as important.